Paraguay: President Lugo Admits Fathering a Child as Bishop
Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo recently admitted that he is the father of Viviana Carillo's son, who was conceived when Lugo was still a Roman Catholic bishop. He also acknowledged a long-time secret relationship with Carillo. Now this news is causing quite a stir amongst politicians, the media, and bloggers who write about the disappointment in their current leader, but also how there are much more serious problems to worry about and the comparison to other acts committed by politicians.
Photo by Fernando Lugo APC Flickr Account. Used under Creative Commons license. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fernandolugoapc/3444612710/
Carlos Rodríguez of Rescatar [es] makes a comparison with what happened years ago in the United States, when then-President Bill Clinton had an inappropriate and extra-marital relationship with Monica Lewinski. There are some who say that it was a personal and private relationship that did not affect the country's interests or did not have any consequences in the lives of the American citizens. Now that Lugo has come forward and will accept responsibility, he writes that the issue is closed for the Paraguayan people [es]. He adds that there are more serious acts committed by other politicians that should receive more ire from the Paraguayan citizens, and that the press should return to focusing on the “national agenda.”
However, since Paraguay is a predominantly Catholic country, many are disappointed in the fact that Lugo violated the clerical vows of celibacy, but to some self-described atheists like Liam of Políticamente Incorrecto [es], that is a non-issue. He also examines the reaction by many different sectors to this piece of news [es] both nationally and internationally:
Conjeturas van y conjeturas vienen, desde todos los ángulos y sectores, hay mujeres ofendidas y machistas alegres, hay colorados eyaculando de felicidad y liberales babeando por un juicio político, hay periodistas pagados que defienden y otros, los olvidados, que machacan como pueden. Hay de todo, y todos están hablando de lo mismo, de las relaciones sexuales del Presidente Lugo. Mientras tanto que pasa? Nada, lo de siempre, el país se sigue cayendo a pedazos.
There are conjectures all over from different angles and sectors, offended women, happy machismo, Colorado party members ejaculating happiness and Liberal party members drooling for a political trial, there are paid journalists defending him and others that chase him as they can. People are talking about Lugo's sexual relationship and what happens in the meanwhile? Nothing, same as always, the country is falling apart in pieces.
On his blog Detrás del Papel [es], Jorge Torres Romero writes that Lugo unequivocally lied to the people:
Le estafó al pueblo. Se presentó como el candidato diferente, el candidato del cambio, de la honestidad y la ética. Pero al final resultó ser un gran mentiroso. Nos vendió (perdón, les vendió, porque yo no lo vote) la imagen del impoluto y hoy perdió ese único capital con el que construyó su candidatura: la credibilidad
Lugo defrauded the people. Has presented himself as a different kind of candidate, the candidate of change, of honestity and ethics. But in the end, he is nothing more than a big liar. He “sold” us (well them, because I didn't vote for him) the image of immaculate and today he lost that unique capital on which he based his candidacy: credibility.
The fact is that even thought this news was a shock and a big surprise for everybody, many feel that this should not shift the attention from what really matters for the Paraguayan people.
3 comments